Mrs. Art Doll Maker

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Treasure Goddess: With heart in hand, she gives openly and freely like a blossoming flower

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Every challenge and swap I participate in always teaches me something very meaningful...something I didn't realize before about myself or seeing the world in a different way...and through the eyes of other doll artists, which is always FUN in and of itself!

Some artists see the world as whimsical, some melancholy, some very spiritual, others very nature based and so on and so forth. They may not even realize it themselves but you get to see it in the pieces that come from their souls. They're all very innovative and resourceful with turning "nothings" into "treasures". Open hearts. Giving hearts.

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Full body view

Another great reason to participate in these projects is it gets the creative juices flowing that you wouldn't necessarily get by doing things yourself. When that happens, more and more ideas begin pouring through. (Have a sketchbook or notebook nearby to try to capture everything so you can remember later.)

A third reason to play with a group is it's a great way to banish creative blocks which we all have found ourselves in at one time or another.

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of upper body

Treasure Goddess is a piece I created in one of my favorite doll clubs, The Goddess Dolls Yahoo Club. This group is so much fun and they come up with the best ideas.

This challenge was called The Same Ten Things Goddess Doll Challenge. Every player received the same 10 items to work with. We were curious to see what goddesses we came up with using the same materials.

(This is a spinoff of the last challenge we did from the Summer called The Ten Things Goddess Doll Challenge. You can see the results in the prior post: Khuhula-Akiki: A Creative Companion. In that one, we received 10 items to work with but each player had a different set of materials to use. No one received the same 10 items.)

In this latest challenge, The Same Ten Things Doll, everyone received the exact same 10 items. Purpose? We wanted to see what goddesses we came up with using the same materials. We all view the world differently and have different things going on internally. This became an expression of our journey to our souls. What would come out?

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of inner veil

As you can see, I love layers upon layers upon layers. Complexity. Texture. Connections. Touch. Symbolism.

Deeply lost in the process, unaware of my surroundings and rumblings of my stomach, I kept thinking, "look at all this stuff", referring to some of the materials I was working with. Things we would normally just toss in the trash. And, here I was trying to figure out how to bring new life to something that society would deem as trash, no value.

We dismiss so much in life that can bring us happiness, joy, peace, wisdom, healing, fun, laughter, just everything great that life has to offer. We're a Get-Rid-Of-Society, always measuring one thing against something else. And if we think it doesn't have our definition of what's "worthy", we trash it.

But, if you take a second look and open ourselves up...just a bit, even just a little, you'll find beauty right where you are, with what you currently have.

Okay, it just may need a little "tweaking" perhaps.

Or maybe not.

In this case, some of the items I received did get a makeover to bring out their beauty. Others were paired with something else to enhance what was already there to be appreciated.

These items that normally would have been thrown in the trash, that this goddess is now collecting, are actually life's treasures.

These words became a mantra in my head over and over and over gain:

With heart in hand, she gives openly and freely like a blossoming flower

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of mid-body (1)

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of mid-body (2)

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of lower body (1)

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of lower body (2)

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of base (1)

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of base (2)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Khuhula-Akiki: A Creative Companion

Khuhula-Akiki

Body approximately 10" H without hanger

So I know I've been off the circuit for quite awhile but plan on sharing my work with you a lot more often and will complete my previous post on my most favorite way of pattern making.

In the meantime, here is one of my most recent creations.

Khuhula-Akiki is a primitive, tribal African fertility goddess.

She is a totem, a talisman to be used in all things creative . She gives birth to creative ideas and does away with creative blocks. Keep her nearby to keep an endless source of creative rivers flowing through you.

Made in a swap where we were challenged to use all 10 items that were sent to us. This is what I received. Everything was used. Nothing was spared.

The lesson for me was to use the mundane ordinary things in our everyday lives that normally would get tossed away and incorporate them into our creations instead. It reminded me there is an endless source of materials and inspiration all around us that we overlook everyday. What do you have nearby?

You can see the little clay face peering over the gourd baby.

The wooden piece below acts as a spirit guide to the spirit guide. (I wondered who guides our spirit guides who guides us. Did you ever think of that?) I personally feel the path to reaching them is through out hearts. Their messages and divine guidance always come from a place of love. Maybe a little sappy; but, that's basically how I see it.

You can see another two pieces used here: one of the golden balls which reminds me of golden pearls (of wisdom, insights, inspirational gems, whatever you want them to be) and the cloth shoe-like ribbon which was used to make a hanger and an accessory that hangs from her headpiece.

The three leaves and another golden pearl adorn the upper corner of her headpiece.

Wine colored ribbon wraps around her body. You can see more of the golden pearls strung through the hanger and side headpiece accessory.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Enter the 2012 Hoffman Challenge!

Picture Courtesy of Hoffman Challenge - Garden Romance Collection

The fabrics for the 2012 challenge have been announced; and, they capture all the old time romance you may find during beautiful Spring walks with fancy umbrellas or on hot Summer picnic days.

I have to admit I haven't entered these past two years; although, I had every intention to do so. I'm already starting to prepare now to make sure I have enough time to get everything finished. I strongly suggest you give it a try, if you haven't already. What I love about this challenge is it gives everyone the opportunity to have their work exhibit in a traveling show, which is exciting - nationally or internationally.

A couple of things to remember if you enter:

Your work cannot be delicately made because it will be traveling with everyone else's dolls. The dolls are packaged in a few big bins; but, there is really no room to give special treatment to any one of them.
The stand needs to be strong. Use a really strong dowel because you don't want it to snap. I've heard many people have had a lot of success with this...Otherwise, try break line from an auto parts store. It's a strong, but very light, piece of metal that comes in different diameters, just like the dowels. You'll need something to cut it down to size. There is a bolt (male end) at one end of the break line which gets inserted into the 7" wooden base. You'll need to drill a larger hole through so you can insert a lock nut (female end) at the bottom and attach the two. Put a lock nut in the bottom of the wooden base. Then, screw the two together.
Label your doll with your name and address on the bottom of the base so they know who to send it back to and make sure you include the check for return s/h. I always forget this step and have to reopen the box again right before it gets shipped.
There are other rules you can read, not too many, by going to their site; but, these are the ones that really stand out in my mind. I have a "Challenges" tab at the top of this blog that you can refer to for easy reference any time.

Here is a picture of all the fabrics in this year's collection. The one above is the main fabric that needs to be used for the challenge. You can buy these fabrics at Quilt Kits Online. Type in "Hoffman 2012 Challenge" in their search bar. Hope to see your entries!